Colin Mansbridge: Crusaders CEO on Richie Mo'unga signing an 18-month contract with NZ Rugby

An exception to normal procedure at the Crusaders in bringing Richie Mo'unga back to the Super Rugby franchise.

The 56-test All Black has signed an 18-month contract to return in July after three seasons playing in Japan. 

Crusaders boss Colin Mansbridge says they're stoked Mo'unga is returning to his home franchise. 

He told Mike Hosking this type of contract is probably the way of the future – athletes gaining experience elsewhere before returning to the game. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good news Rugby story of the week. What have we
got the return of Richie Muwanga eighteen month deal, Crusaders,
Canterbury and the All Black. So it allows him to
be part of the World Cup. Of course is the
key there. He's going to be back with Canterbury as
in the NPC team this time next year. Colin Mansbridge
is the Crusader Sea and as well as Colin morning morning,
very well, thank you. How individual is all of this
this is for Richie and Richie alone? Or is this

(00:21):
the way of the future.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
I think it's a bit of the way of the future.
I think it's some you know, athletes are good enough,
they've sort of done their apprenticeship so to speak, if
you call it apprenticeship, made a commitment to the game,
and then they go and experience a bit elsewhere. I
think this is the future and it's actually probably the
past that there's heat suppliers that have done similar types

(00:44):
of thing.

Speaker 1 (00:44):
Yeah, but the key there is similar. It's a sabbatical.
It's a different arrangement. He seemed did he blow it?
I mean I'm not begging him, but do you just
leave a little bit early, get a bit carried away?
With Japan and then go, oh dear, I regret it.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
I'm not sure it's interesting. You know, we were talking,
say about how long he's been playing the game. Here,
there's not many first fives with one seven Super Rugby
Pacific titles, so that's a lot, and so you know,
how many more does he have to win? So you
know he's gone for experience, given its family something different. Yeah,

(01:17):
I think it's probably a bit more complex than that.

Speaker 1 (01:19):
Okay, fair enough, you've got since we last taught, you
got Rob back as well, which I think for a
while there might have been a question Michael wouldn't it.

Speaker 2 (01:26):
Well, I'll tell you what happened last year. He I
think he appreciated the review process that we did. You know,
we said last year, look, we're in it, but it's
not things aren't going well. We're going to do this
thing properly. We'll do the review. How can we get better?
Where are the things we need to improve, and let's
get through that. And he said, look, I thought that
process was so good last year. Let's let's give it

(01:48):
the credit it's due and do the same thing this year.
And then of course he went through a few of
his own reflections, so you know we're pleased. Good good.

Speaker 1 (01:56):
So you've got Richie and Rob. You're on a roll.
Now all you need to do is sign up the stadium.
Signed up the stadium column we have Yeah, sorry.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
Well we've got an agreement in Princeville and everything, and
we're working through the final detail with venues or to
tell you. So we're just about me.

Speaker 1 (02:15):
Okay, what are we going to know about that?

Speaker 2 (02:17):
Well, actually, the draws due out. I think it's a
couple of weeks to grow Pacific draw all. The work
around first game in the stadium is sort of in
the sort of mid April. I think practical completion data
is eighteenth of April or that sort of date. And
everything's on track. So so this is one project, one

(02:41):
infrastructure thing, and I don't want to sell basics what pack,
but this is one infrastructure thing that's gone really, really well.
Once they were given the artist to get on.

Speaker 1 (02:51):
The mucking around was no good. But once they started,
it's it's been brilliant, hasn't it.

Speaker 2 (02:56):
It has been very good.

Speaker 1 (02:57):
Hair Good on you, mate, You have a good weekend.
Colin Man's ritue is one of my favorite people in
the whole world. So Rob Penney, Richie Muwanga got the
stadium and the ability to travel both to the future
and the past. Batter for more from the mi Asking Breakfast,
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